Japanese economic revitalization minister Toshimitsu Motegi will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer later this week in Washington to advance negotiations for a bilateral trade deal.
Their two-day meeting starting Thursday will take place after talks were put on hold during campaigning for the July 21 Upper House election.
Motegi told a news conference Monday that "there isn't much daylight left" for negotiations, with both sides believed to be aiming for an agreement in September.
Following up on working-level talks held in Washington last week, the two are expected to discuss tariff cuts in sensitive areas such as beef and pork by Japan and automobiles and auto parts by the United States.